Axonal Transport Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering axonal transport, directionality, motor proteins, and related clinical note on Rabies.

Axonal transport

Movement of materials between the cell body and axon terminal (axoplasm) along the axon, requiring ATP and mediated by molecular motors.

Axoplasm

The cytoplasm within the axon through which materials are transported.

Anterograde transport

Movement of materials from the cell body to the axon terminal; typically driven by kinesin.

Retrograde transport

Movement of materials from the axon terminal toward the cell body; mediated by dynein.

Kinesin

Molecular motor that moves cargo anterogradely along microtubules, consuming ATP.

Dynein

Molecular motor that moves cargo retrogradely along microtubules, consuming ATP.

Molecular motors

Protein machines (e.g., kinesin and dynein) that move cargos along microtubules using energy from ATP.

Slow axonal transport (slow stream)

Slow transport rate; a few millimeters per day.

Fast axonal transport (fast stream)

Rapid transport reaching up to about 1000 mm per day.

Rabies retrograde transport

Rabies virus uses retrograde axonal transport from peripheral sites to the CNS, traveling toward the cell body.